NYS Department of Labor processing delays if demand is unexpectedly high for a prolonged period of time - how long to wait?
My unemployment claim has been stuck in adjudication for almost 6 weeks now and I'm wondering if this is because demand is unexpectedly high for a prolonged period of time at NYS Department of Labor? I filed in early December after getting laid off from my warehouse job and everything seemed normal at first. Got my monetary determination letter within a week, started filing weekly claims, then suddenly it switched to 'adjudication in progress' with no explanation. I've tried calling the main number dozens of times but either get disconnected or told the call volume is too high. My account on my.ny.gov doesn't show any issues that need to be resolved on my end. Has anyone else experienced these kinds of delays recently? I'm starting to panic about rent and bills piling up.
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GalaxyGazer
Yes, processing times have definitely increased lately. The NYS Department of Labor is dealing with higher than normal claim volumes right now. Adjudication can take 4-8 weeks during busy periods, especially if they need to verify employment details or investigate any discrepancies. Keep filing your weekly claims even while it's pending - you'll get backpay once it's approved. Make sure there are no outstanding issues in your account that might be holding things up.
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Nia Harris
•Thanks for the info. I've been filing weekly like clockwork and my account shows no issues. Just frustrating not knowing what they're even reviewing.
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Mateo Sanchez
same boat here, been waiting 5 weeks for adjudication to finish. called every day last week and finally got through to someone who said they're just backed up and to keep waiting. no timeframe given
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Nia Harris
•At least you got through to someone! Did they say what they were actually reviewing during adjudication?
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Mateo Sanchez
•not really, just said it was routine verification stuff and that the high demand means everything takes longer
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Aisha Mahmood
I had success getting through to NYS Department of Labor using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They basically call for you and get you connected to an actual agent. Saved me weeks of trying to get through myself. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Might be worth trying if you need to check on your adjudication status.
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Ethan Moore
•never heard of this, does it actually work? seems too good to be true
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Aisha Mahmood
•Worked for me last month. Got connected within a few hours when I'd been trying for weeks on my own. The agent was able to tell me exactly what was holding up my claim.
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Yuki Kobayashi
The whole system is a JOKE right now. They keep saying 'high demand' but they've had YEARS to figure this out. Meanwhile people are losing their homes waiting for benefits they're entitled to. I've been fighting with them for 2 months over an overpayment notice that makes no sense.
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Carmen Vega
•I feel your frustration but try to stay positive. The delays are real but most claims do eventually get processed. Focus on what you can control - keep filing weekly and document everything.
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QuantumQuester
Wait so if adjudication takes this long does that mean I won't get paid until it's done?? I thought weekly claims would still go through... this is terrifying, I have kids to feed
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GalaxyGazer
•You'll get all your back payments once adjudication is complete, as long as you keep filing your weekly claims. It's scary waiting but the money will come through retroactively. Keep filing every week no matter what.
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Carmen Vega
Unfortunately this seems to be the new normal when there are economic disruptions or seasonal hiring changes. The system just wasn't designed to handle rapid increases in claim volume efficiently. The good news is that as long as you're eligible, you will eventually receive all payments you're owed. Document all your job search activities and keep filing weekly - that's the most important thing you can do right now.
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Oliver Schulz
I'm in a similar situation - filed in mid-December and have been in adjudication for about 5 weeks now. What's really frustrating is the lack of communication. Even just an automated update saying "your claim is still being reviewed, estimated completion in X weeks" would help so much with the anxiety. I've been keeping detailed records of all my job applications and weekly certifications just in case, but the uncertainty is really wearing on me. Has anyone had success reaching out to their local career center for updates, or is it all handled centrally?
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Sophia Clark
I'm going through the exact same thing - filed in early December and stuck in adjudication for 5+ weeks now. The lack of transparency is what's killing me. I've been trying to get through to someone who can at least tell me what they're reviewing, but it's impossible. I did try contacting my local One-Stop Career Center to see if they had any insight, but they told me adjudication is handled entirely by the central DOL office and they can't access those records. One thing I learned is that you can sometimes get more info by calling the employer services line instead of the claimant line - they're less busy and sometimes transfer you to someone who can actually help. Still waiting though. Hang in there, we're all in this together.
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